12.07.2015
National Day of Commemoration in Royal Hospital Kilmainham
The annual National Day of Commemoration Ceremony, to honour all those Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in past wars or on service with the United Nations, was held in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, today. Ceremonies also took place at six locations across Ireland.
The ceremony in Dublin was attended by the President, the Taoiseach, the Government and the Council of State, as well as members of Dáil and Seanad Éireann, the Diplomatic Corps, the Judiciary and Northern Ireland representatives.
The next–of–kin of those who died in past wars or on UN service and a wide cross–section of the community including ex–servicemen’s organisations, as well as relatives of the 1916 Leaders, were also invited.
During the ceremony there was a multi faith commemoration involving a representative of the Jewish community in Ireland, Rabbi Zalman Lent; the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Diarmuid Martin ; the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson; the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Revd Brian Anderson; a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ireland, the Revd Fr Mikhail Nasonov; the Moderator of t he General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Rt Revd Dr Ian McNie; and the Imam at the Islamic Cultural Centre, Imam Sheikh Hussein Halawa.
The President laid a wreath on behalf of the people of Ireland in honour of all Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in past wars or on service with the United Nations.
Music was provided by soloist Cara O’Sullivan and the Army No 1 Band.
The ceremony concluded with the National Anthem and a flyover of the quadrangle by the Air Force.
Photo captions:
Top – President Michael D Higgins inspects the Guard of Honour in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
Bottom – Archbishop Micheal Jackson and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin lead the closing prayers during this morning’s National Day of Commemoration Ceremony.